--HOW TO MAKE: Repairs & Alterations

[Ataraxia]

Rubberron (Rubberron)
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Posted on Sunday, May 19, 2002 - 06:30 pm GMT: Hello Catsmajik
First of allON`T use heat and stretching it will ruin the dress.
The most save way to alter the dress, would be by some with experience in makin and reparing latex clothes.
My suggestion is,let the experienced person remove the zipper and replace with a lace cord .
Rubberron

Catsmajik (Catsmajik)
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Posted on Sunday, May 19, 2002 - 04:20 pm GMT: I am looking for advice concerning the alteration of a recently purchased latex dress. The hip area of the full-length dress is a little too narrow for my girlfriend's hips. She is unable to do up the back zipper. Is there a safe way to expand this area? Perhaps with heat and stretching?
Thanks in advance for any and all help.
CatsMajik

[Ataraxia]

Repairing Rubber Garments

(c) 2002 by JIML

If you have ever torn a treasured rubber garment, you'll know the sickening feeling as you survey the damage. No repair can ever completely restore the item but I've found a way to minimise the damage. Here's what I do...

(NOTE: This method is NOT suitable for tight fitting garments. The adhesive will pull apart if subjected to excessive lateral stress.)

First, you must save as many pieces of different types and colours of rubber sheet as you can find. Chances are you won't have a match for the torn garment, but if your collection of scraps is extensive enough, you will have more hope of finding something that will serve your purpose. (The repair will be on the inside of the garment, so a colour match is not so important).

First, lay the garment out on a table and place a piece of stiff cardboard under the damaged area. Then working on the outside of the garment, pull the torn edges together and hold them in place with short strips of cellulose tape. Carefully turn the garment inside out and check that the tapes are still secure and the tear is closed. Using a soft cloth and methylated spirit (rubbing alcohol), clean an inch-wide strip down both sides of the tear.

Take a piece of scrap rubber sheet that approximates in colour and texture the material you are trying to repair. Clean both sides with methylated spirit, as you did with your garment.

Now comes the secret bit... Get a roll of 3/4 inch "Scotch" brand adhesive transfer tape (Product No 924) (sometimes sold as "Scotch" Glue Tape) Unroll a length of tape two inches longer than the tear in your garment. Carefully lay this on the scrap rubber and press down firmly. Be careful with this product as it is as sticky as all-get-out and once it's stuck, it'll stay stuck - even where you don't want it! Neatly trim the rubber sheet each side of the tape, to give you a 3/4 inch strip of rubber, backed with a waxy brown paper.

It would be useful to have three hands for the next step but you must now remove the backing paper, position the tape over the tear and press firmly into position. If you have a long tear to mend, it's best to do it with several short sections of tape. And of course, this is the only way you can repair a curved tear.

After you have finished taping the inside of the tear, you can remove the cellulose tape from the outside of the garment and the job is done. Note again that this method is not suitable for tight fitting garments. However, you might try making a double-width strip of rubber tape, using two lengths of adhesive tape side by side. This may just hold if the garment is not too tight. I haven't tried it so I can't promise that it will work.

The adhesive works just as well on latex rubber as on gum rubber. And it can be used for other applications around the house, such as sticking labels on bottles or jars. It really is a magic product!

A roll of "Scotch" 924 tape contains 36 yards of material so you will never run out (unless you are extremely rough with your rubber clothes). The tape is also available in 3/8 inch rolls but this has limited applications for our purposes.

Good Luck!

[jin]

I came across this just now, it sounds like it could be quite handy, and more than up to the job:

http://rswww.com Part # 288-5392 "Fast Cure Rubber Repair"

Rapid curing rubber repair liquid and putty in easy to use cartridge format, dispensed by an applicator gun through mixing nozzles for no mess precise dispensing.

* 5 minute working time

* Tack free in 35 minutes

* Functional cure in 1 to 2 hours

* Toughened urethane formulation for outstanding wear and tear resistance

* Excellent adhesion, for improved adhesion use Flexane, FL10 primer for metals or FL20 primer for rubber, wood fibreglass, concrete or cured Flexane.


Putty
Ideal for use on torn conveyor belts, coating metal splices, repairing holes and gouges in rubber belting, sealing gaskets etc. Non sag formulation for use on vertical surfaces.
Liquid
Ideal for filling control / expansion joints in metal or concrete, belt splice / edging filler material, crack filling in concrete, wood or metal. Low viscosity formulation for use where ?self levelling? is required

The only problem I can see is it's ?25 + VAT and the applicator is ?135 (although I'm not convinced the applicator would be essential).

I've uploaded the data sheets here:
http://uk.geocities.com/rubberjin/da...epair_data.pdf
http://uk.geocities.com/rubberjin/da...air_safety.pdf

Has anyone tried it, or does someone more knowledgeable than myself know if it would be suitable or not from the data sheets?

If anyone wants to give it a go I have an RS account and would be happy to order it & forward on. And I take paypal

[Novice]

I am interested in finding out how to stretch a latex long line inflatable bra that I bought from Denber International Rubber. The bra is a little tight around the chest and I was wondering if using heat would be the best way to do it? If so how would I go about doing it ? century gothic5

[rubberfiend]

I am interested in finding out how to stretch a latex long line inflatable bra that I bought from Denber International Rubber. The bra is a little tight around the chest and I was wondering if using heat would be the best way to do it? If so how would I go about doing it ?

NO. Heat will only cause the latex to disintegrate, or even worse, burst into flames. Do not even try to do this...it will be a disaster.

Indeed, it is the very elastic nature of latex that prevents one from "stretching it out" in any permanent way. To succeed is to essentially damage it.

The only fix is to join more latex to the areas that need lengthening.